Electricity-meter.



G. A SGHEEFFER. ELEGTRIGITY METER.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 15, 1907.

905,934. Patented Dec. 8, 1908,

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G. A. SOHEEFFER.

I 'ELBGTRIGITY METER. I APYLIOATIOI TILED JAN. 15, 1907.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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G A. SOHEEFFER.

ELECTRICITY METER.

' APPLIUATION FILED JAIL-15, 1907.

905,934. Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV E A. SCHEEFFER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ELECTRICITY-METER.

Application filed January 15, 1907.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvE A. Sounnrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electricity-Meters, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electrical measuring instruments, particularly wattmeters, and contemplates improved features of construction and arrangement.

My invention will be best understood when described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the wattmeter; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the meter, the inclosing cover being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a top View of the brush holder frame, part of the supporting frame being broken away; Fig. 4 is a diametrical sectional view of the compensating coil; Fig. 5 is a top view of the armature, and Fig. 6 is an isolated side view of the armature. Fig. 7 shows an armature coil with the winding arrangement thereof.

1 is the main supporting plate, preferably formed of some non-magnetic material, such as brass or aluminum. The supporting plate is rectangular as shown in Fig. 1, having at its top a supporting lug 2 and at each lower corner a distance lug 3, having screwhole 4 extending therethrough and through the supporting plate. The armature spindle 5 has the upper and lower pivot pins 6 and 7 engaging in pivot members 8 and 9 respectively. An L-shaped pivot supporting frame or plate 9 is held in place 011 the supporting plate by means of screws 10 and guide pins 11 extending'from the plate, the horizontal arm of this supporting frame eX tending forwardly and terminating at its end in the upright cylindrical lug 12 through which extends the pivot pin 8 to be secured therein in any vertical adjusted position by means of a set screw 13 passing through the lug. The lower end of this pivot member 8 has a bearing opening or channel 14 for receiving the pivot pin 6 of the spindle. The lower L-shaped supporting frame 15 is secured at its base to the supporting plate by means of screws 16 and guide pins 17, and has at its front .end an upwardly extending Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Serial No. 352,429.

lug 18 having the axial channel 19 there through for receiving the pivot frame 9. This pivot frame 9 has in its upper end a bearing jewel 20 and at its lower end terminates in a head 21 having a conical projection 22 which projection is engaged by the end of the spring plate 23 secured at its other end to the supporting frame 15 by means of a screw 24, a collar 25 intervening between thespring plate and the frame 15.

A guide pin 26 extending from the supporting frame 15 enters an opening 27 through the spring plate to hold said plate in normal position in engagement with the projection 22 to hold the pivot frame 9 within the lug 18. The end of the bearing member 9 does not quite reach to the upper end of the In 18, and a bearing pocket 28 is, therefore, formed for receiving lubricating oil, if desired. When the lower bearing 9 is to be removed for inspection or repairs, the spring plate 22 is first bent downwardly to clear the locking pin 26 and is then rotated sufficiently to allow extraction of the bearing member 9 from the lugs 18. A short distance above the lug 18 is the meter disk 29 which is secured to the spindle by means of the hub 30 and the set screw 31. Be tween the disk and the upper end of the spindle is supported the meter armature 32 whose novel construction and arrangement I shall presently describe in detail. Near the upper end of the spindle is the commutator 33 comprising three commutator segments 34, 34 held together on the spindle by end rings 35, 36 which, however, are suitably insulated from the segments which segments are also insulated from the spindle in any suitable manner. Directly above the disk is the L-shaped frame 37 secured at its base to the supporting plate by means of screws 38 and guide pins 39. At'the front end of this supporting frame 37 is a slot or opening 40 through which passes the spindle, and in the lower face of the supporting frame and surrounding the opening 40 is a pocket 41 for receiving the upper end of the hub 30 when the spindle is raised, but normally the upper end of the hub is clear of the supporting frame 37. Directly below the disk is a spring plate or arm 42 secured at its rear end to the meter supporting plate by a screw 43 and suitable guide pins (not shown). The front end of the spring plate 42 has an opening 44 through which passes the spindle. The pivot supporting plate 15 has a threaded opening 45 through which passes a screw 46 having at its lower end theknurled head 17, its upper end being adapted for engagement with the spring plate 42. During transportation or when not in use, it is desirable that the spindle be raised and its lower pivot point held from the jewel, and upon sufficient turning of the lifting screw t6, the spring plate 42 is raised against the disk hub, and the spindle thereby raised until the upper end of the hub securely engages in the pocket all in supporting frame 37, the spindle rotating parts being then locked against rotation and the lower pivot point removed from the jewel, thereby preventing any damage to these parts during transportation or while the meter is not to be used.

I shall now describe the novel and neat arrangement and construction of the armature of my improved meter.

My improved armature is built up of previously wound and formed coils which embrace and which are interlocked to the supporting disk mounted on the spindle. The construction of the armature is best shown. in Figs. 5 and 6, and its winding comprises three coils, 49, 50 and 51. These coils are similar both mechanically and electrically and are primarily wound on a cylindrical form to the proper resistance and are then properly insulated and bent to the desired elliptical form shown whereupon they are sprung onto a disk 52 of insulating material, such as rubber or fiber and secured to the spindle by means of a hub 52'. The body of this disk is cylindrical, and having the extensions 53, 5% and 55 displaced 120 degrees, the elliptical coils, after being sufficiently sprung, may slip over the disk end projections to be interlocked thereon, as shown, the coils leaving the upper and lower triangular openings 56 and 57 for receiving the spindle, and when once assembled, the coils are displaced 120 degrees from each other and are absolutely locked against displacement.

The field coil 58 for the meter may be cylindrical in form, as shown, and clip frames 59 and 60 which receive this coil are secured to the supporting frames 61 and 62 extending forwardly from the meter supporting plate 1, being secured thereto. This field coil embraces the armature and is preferably tilted to an angle, as shown, in order to economize in space. The terminals 63 and 6 1 of the field coil connect with the upper end of conducting strips 65 and 66 whose lower ends connect with binding posts 67 and 68. In line with the binding posts 67 and 68 are the. additional binding posts 69. and 7 0 connected together by'the metallic strip 71. These bindingposts are suitably insulated from the frame 1 by insulating bushings 72'and by the insnlatingsheet 7 3 disposed against the face of the meter sup porting plate 1 and below the heads of the binding posts to the rear of the conducting strips 65, 66 and 71. The external conductors for connecting with the meter engage in openings 74 in the binding posts to the rear of the supporting plate, and the conductors are secured within the posts by means of the binding screws 7 Any other form of binding or connecting arrangement, however, may be provided.

The brush. mechanism for leading current to the commutator and thence to the armature windings is of novel construction which is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The brush mechanism is supported from the brush holder plate or frame 76 which at its inner end engages about the lug 12 directly above the supporting frame 9, being held thereon by the collar 77 and set screw 78. At the other end of the frame 76 are the lugs 79, 80 through which extend down wardly the brush holder yokes or rods 81 and 82 which are insulated from the bushings by means of insulating sleeves 83 and 8 1, the upper end of the rods having threaded openings .for receiving binding "screws-85 and 86 respectively whereby conductors may besecured to the rods. Each rod carries one or more brush frames 87, each of which comprises a hub 88 and the arms 89 and 90 extending therefrom, as best shown in Fig. 3. Each arm 89 has a transverse opening 91 and a longitudinal or smaller opening or channel 92 for receiving directly the end of a brush rod 93 or reinforcing sleeve 9-ft at the end of the brush rod which sleeve is clamped in the channel 92 by means of a binding screw 95 threading through the arm 89 and passing through the opening 91 into clamping engagement with the sleeve 94.. The front end of each brush rod 93 may engage directly with the commutator or may be provided with a sleeve or brush 96 of suitable material, and this sleeve or brush may be either cylindrical as shown or of any other shape. The brush rods 93 may be of rigid material or of springy material and are preferably twisted or wound to include spring section 97 whereby the engagement of the brushes with the commutator is very delicate and frictionless,'at the same time offering good contact. Secured to each brush supporting yoke or red below the brush frames 88 is an abutment frame 98 whose form is best shown in Fig. 2, the abutment arm 99 extending been determinedand the abutment screwsset, the brush frames 82 may be rotatedabout the brush rods for inspection or cleaning purposes, and when the brush frame is again returned to its normal position against its abutment screw, the contact adjustment of the brush with the commutator will not have been disturbed. Each brush frame has also a set screw 100 passing through its hub whereby the frame may be finally secured to the corresponding supporting rod 82 for adjustment. The entire brush mechanism may also be rotated about the connnutator upon loosening of screw 101 which threads into the supporting frame 9 and which engages in the slot 102 in the brush holder frame or plate 76, and this rotatioirof the brush holder mechanism allows easy access to all the various screws of the brush frames which makes inspection and repairs a very simple matter. The brush yokes are connected with the binding posts, yoke 81 being shown as eventually connected with strip 65 and thus with binding post 67 while yoke 82 is shown as connected eventually with binding post 69.

WVhen the meter is connected in circuit, the field winding is connected serially in circuit by means of the binding posts 67 and 68, and the armature winding is included in the circuit connected in bridge of the circuit to be measured, one terminal of this bridge circuit connecting with binding post 69, the other terminal thereof connecting with strip 65. In this circuit are also included a suitable resistance and compensating mechanism. The resistance is inclosed in the case 103 shown as supported at the rear of the main plate 1. The compensating mechanism comprises the winding 104 wound on spool 105, as best shown in Fig. 4, said spool being secured to the front of the supporting plate 1 in suitable position with respect to the armature, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the winding and spool being suitably insulated from the plate. The spool is preferably of non-magnetic material, and extending from the interior, thereof is a screw-or rod 106 supported from the plate 1 and extending beyond the outer end of the spool, which end is threaded to receive a thumb nut 107. One limb of an L-shaped member 108 of magnetic material extends through the interior of the spool, its other limb receiving the end of the rod 106 extending beyond the armature, as shown. An actuating plate or handle 109 engages the rod 106 below the outer end of the core member 108 and extends across the spool. By means of this handle or plate, the core member may be rotated to bring the outer limb thereof in any position with respect to the armature, and the thumb nut 107 serves to lock the core member in any adjusted position. The winding 10 1 and the resistance within the case 103 are included serially in the pressure circuit with the brushes and armature, and when the meter is connected up, as before stated, the main current of the armature and the friction and other irregularities compensated for. Each armature coil has a suitable number of turns of fine wire to and one layer of heavier wire to" having its ends connected, this short circuited winding serving to prevent sparking.

The damping magnet 110 is supported from the frame or strap 111 whose ends engage about the ends of supporting posts 112 and 11.3 extending forwardly from the meter plate. A collar 11 1 with a set screw 115 engages each of these posts, and the ends of the supporting straps may be clamped about the posts by means of clamping screws 116, as best shown in Fig. 1. Also supported from said strap is a magnetic shield. or disk 117 extending rearwardly and below the field coil to guard against demagnetization of the damping magnet or other evil results which might follow upon overload of the field coil. Also supported from the ends of the posts 112 and 113 is a suitable recording mechanism here shown as comprising the housing or supporting frame 118 having supporting lugs or ears 119 which engage against the frontends of the post and secured thereto by screws 1.20. WVithin the housing 118 is suitable cyclometer mechan ism on which extends the shaft 121 terminating in a pinion 122 engaging the worm threads 123 of the spindle, the end of the shaft 121 being supported from the frame 124 extending rearwardly from the housing 118. Pins 125 extending from the end of the posts 112 and 113 engage openings through the supporting wings 119, and proper readjustment of the cyclometer frame after removal from the meter is assured. By removing screws 120 the entire cyclometer frame can be withdrawn from the meter, and by then loosening screws 116, the supporting bridge with the damping magnet and magnetic shield may be withdrawn from the posts 112 and 113. If it is then desired to remove the armature and spindle, the lower pivot frame 15 is removed whereupon the spindle with the armature and disk thereon may be withdrawn. Owing to the guide pins the various moved parts can be readily brought back into proper position. The damping magnet frame when replaced will assume its prior position upon being brought into engagement with the collars 114 on the posts 112 and 113. Thus, the meter may be quickly dissassembled and assembled without in any way disturbing the through which the reading of the meter may be ascertained from the cyclometer wheels. Below this opening is a side opening 131 for observing the movement of the meter disk, being provided with glass 132. The main part of the casing incloses the meter operating parts, and along the lower edge of the casing is a section 133 of reduced height and having the opening 134 in its front wall adapted to be closed by a cover 135 by means of screws 136 which screws may have openings through their heads for the reception of sealing wire. The opening 134. is opposite the binding screws in the binding posts, and the thumb head st? of the spindle lifting screw is also opposite said opening. When the meter is assembled and adjusted, the casing may be secured thereto and the nuts 128 sealed. If the meter is to be in stalled and secured to a support, it is necessary to remove the casing, as by means of mounting screws through the lugs 3 and the upper lug 2, the meter may readily be secured. The circuit terminals are then inserted in the binding posts at the rear of the meter supporting plate and secured therein by means of the binding screws 75 which are accessible upon opening of the cover 135. When the meter is ready for connection in circuit, the lifting screw 46 is lowered to release the spindle and to set it in its bearings whereupon the meter is ready for operation. The casing is made entirely of aluminum to secure lightness, and all the supporting frames and posts in the meter can also be made of aluminum. The supporting frames and posts also need not be of the number and arrangement as shown, but may be consolidated into one or more common supporting frames. The arrangement of the operative parts of the meter may also be changed without departing from the spirit of my in- 'vention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise arrangement and construction of the parts as shown and described, but

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an electricity meter, the combination of a field-producing winding, an armature winding in the form of three coils subjected to the influence of the field winding, an armature shaft, a disk on said shaft having three locking projections displaced 120 de grees, each coil being at one side of the armature shaft and locked between said shaft and two of the projections, the coils interlacing and being displaced 120 degrees.

2. In an electricity meter, the combination of a field winding, armature windings in the form of three similar previously wound coils subjected to the influence of said field winding, an armature spindle, said coils being displaced 120 degrees and each coil being wholly on one side of the armature spindle and against the armature spindle, said coils being interlocked, and means for holding the coils in their interlocked position.

In an electricity meter, the combination of a field producing winding, an armature in the form of three previously wound coils subjected to the influence of said field winding, an armature spindle, said coils interlacing and displaced 120 degrees, and means for locking each coil against and wholly at one side of the armature spindle, said coils being all of the same size and having the same resistance whereby the armature is mechanically and electrically balanced.

l. In an electricity meter, the combination of a field winding, an armature formed of three previously wound coils, an armature spindle, and a support on said spindle for said coils, said coils being locked by said support and being mutually interlocked so that each coil is held against and wholly on one side of the armature spindle.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of January A. D.,

GUSTAVE A. SCHEEFFER. Vitnesses:

HENRY J. HERT,

C. S. CALDER. 

